U.S. patent number 6,634,955 [Application Number 10/112,207] was granted by the patent office on 2003-10-21 for golf club.
Invention is credited to Nicholas M. Middleton.
United States Patent |
6,634,955 |
Middleton |
October 21, 2003 |
Golf club
Abstract
A method of improving the putting stroke of a golfer using a
putter as a training device, said putter having a club head and in
one embodiment an attachment for the same. The club head has faces
or edges defining a body of a predetermined thickness to which a
shaft is attached. Within the body of the head there is provided a
recess in a form which opens into the rear face of the head or as a
closed aperture completely defined within the body which is of
marginally greater dimensions than, and adapted to receive an
object such as a conventionally sized golf ball. The recess or
aperture can be disposed of substantially centrally of the head so
that the "sweet spot" can be substantially centrally disposed of
said recess or aperture. Ideal toe-heel weight distribution can be
achieved in this manner. The club, which is typically a putter, can
be used as a practicing aid by swinging the same proximate a
surface when the articles or objects are disposed within said
recess or aperture. In one embodiment when the putter is swung so
that it is no longer proximate the floor, the object or article is
released and is momentum causes the same to continue moving in a
direction imparted to it by the swinging of the putter. The swing
profile of a user can thus be quickly assessed. The attachment
embodiment functions in a similar manner and allows for attachment
to a conventional putter not provided with a recess to be used as a
putting training aid.
Inventors: |
Middleton; Nicholas M.
(Sheffield, GB) |
Family
ID: |
29219058 |
Appl.
No.: |
10/112,207 |
Filed: |
March 28, 2002 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
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491570 |
Jan 26, 2000 |
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971319 |
Oct 3, 2001 |
6435975 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
473/231; 473/235;
473/409; 473/341; 473/257; 473/242 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B
53/0487 (20130101); A63B 69/3685 (20130101); A63B
60/50 (20151001); A63B 53/0437 (20200801); A63B
53/0441 (20200801); A63B 53/0433 (20200801); A63B
69/3682 (20200801) |
Current International
Class: |
A63B
53/04 (20060101); A63B 69/36 (20060101); A63B
069/36 (); A63B 053/04 () |
Field of
Search: |
;473/131,231,238,257,258,260,261,268,280,242,249,251,219,235,200,409,286,313
;434/252 ;D21/736-746 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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07255886 |
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Oct 1995 |
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JP |
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10305119 |
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Nov 1998 |
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JP |
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Primary Examiner: Passaniti; Sebastiano
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Cislo & Thomas LLP
Parent Case Text
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
This patent application is a continuation of U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 09/491,570 filed Jan. 26, 2000, now abandoned,
and a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No.
09/971,319 filed Oct. 3, 2001, now issued as U.S. Pat. No.
6,435,975.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A method of improving the putting stroke of a golfer using a
putter as a training device, said putter having a club head
comprising at least one channel defined throughout the thickness of
the club head and having a rearmost dimensional size of at least
the diameter of a golf ball so that such a golf ball is not
hindered moving into and from said channel, said putting stroke
including a backswing, a downswing, and a follow through, said
method including the steps of placing a first golf ball in said
channel when the club head is stationary on a surface prior to
commencing the stroke, marking said surface with an indicator means
behind the first golf ball extending in a straight line rearwardly
therefrom, executing a controlled backswing causing the first ball
to roll along the surface until no longer in contact with the rear
most edge of the club head at which time the momentum already
imparted to said first ball causes same to continue rolling in a
release direction dependent on the club head motion at the moment
of deceleration of said club head towards the end of the backswing,
said release direction being ideally identical to the direction in
which said indicator means extends on said surface when the
backswing is correctly executed and easily distinguishable
therefrom in the event that the release direction is different.
2. A method of improving the putting stroke of a golfer using a
putter as a training device, said putter having a club head
comprising at least one aperture defined throughout the thickness
of the club head, said aperture being of a size and shape capable
of receiving a golf ball which can pass through the aperture
without hindrance from the edges or sides which define said
aperture, said putting stroke including a backswing, a downswing,
and a follow through, said method including the steps of placing a
first golf ball in said aperture when the club head is stationary
on a surface prior to commencing the stroke, marking said surface
with an indicator means extending forward therefrom in straight
line, firstly executing a controlled backswing so that the club
head rises above the surface by a distance less than the diameter
of a golf ball thus causing the first ball to roll along the
surface but ensuring said first ball is retained in the aperture,
secondly executing a downswing whereby the club is accelerated from
the top of the backswing towards its starting position, and finally
executing a follow through whereby the club head is raised above
said surface by an amount greater than the diameter of a golf ball
so that the first ball is released from the aperture in a release
direction dependent on the direction of travel of the club head at
the moment of release, the release direction and the direction of
the indicator means being ideally identical when the follow through
is correctly executed and easily distinguishable in the event that
the two directions are different by virtue of the divergence of the
first ball from the indicator means as they travel in different
directions.
3. A method of improving the putting stroke of a golfer using a
putter having an attachment secured thereto as a training device,
said putter having a club head, said attachment being secured to
said club head and comprising a pair of arms extending rearwardly
to define a channel having a rearmost dimensional size of at least
the diameter of a golf ball so that such a golf ball is not
hindered moving into and from said channel, said putting stroke
including a backswing, a downswing, and a follow through, said
method including the steps of placing a first golf ball in said
channel when the club head is stationary on a surface prior to
commencing the stroke, marking said surface with an indicator means
behind the first golf ball extending in a straight line rearwardly
therefrom, executing a controlled backswing causing the first ball
to roll along the surface until no longer in contact with the rear
most edge of the channel at which time the momentum already
imparted to said first ball causes same to continue rolling in a
release direction dependent on the club head motion at the moment
of deceleration of said club head towards the end of the backswing,
said release direction being ideally identical to the direction in
which said indicator means extends on said surface when the
backswing is correctly executed and easily distinguishable
therefrom in the event that the release direction is different.
4. A method of improving the putting stroke of a golfer using a
putter having an attachment secured thereto as a training device,
said putter having a club head, said attachment being secured to
said club head and defining an aperture being of a size and shape
capable of receiving a golf ball which can pass through the
aperture without hindrance from the edges or sides which define
said aperture, said putting stroke including a backswing, a
downswing, and a follow through, said method including the steps of
placing a first golf ball in said aperture when the club head is
stationary on a surface prior to commencing the stroke, marking
said surface with an indicator means extending forward therefrom in
straight line, firstly executing a controlled backswing so that the
club head rises above the surface by a distance less than the
diameter of a golf ball thus causing the first ball to roll along
the surface but ensuring said first ball is retained in the
aperture, secondly executing a downswing whereby the club is
accelerated from the top of the backswing towards its starting
position, and finally executing a follow through whereby the club
head is raised above said surface by an amount greater than the
diameter of a golf ball so that the first ball is released from the
aperture in a release direction dependent on the direction of
travel of the club head at the moment of release, the release
direction and the direction of the indicator means being ideally
identical when the follow through is correctly executed and easily
distinguishable in the event that the two directions are different
by virtue of the divergence of the first ball from the indicator
means as they travel in different directions.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to golf clubs, and more particularly
although not necessarily exclusively, to putters which are used in
the game of golf to strike the ball along the surface of a
green.
2. Description of the Related Art
Golf is generally played on courses having eighteen or nine holes
having "tees" at one end of the hole from which a ball is initially
struck by a player and a green provided with a hole therein at the
alternate end. The tee and the green are separated by a fairway and
the general principle behind the game of golf is to deposit the
ball in the hole on the green with as few strikes of the ball as
possible.
Putters are typically used on the greens and on the fringes
surrounding the greens to strike the golf ball towards the hole
with the aim of depositing the ball in said hole. The hole is only
of the order of 12 centimetres in diameter and when it is
considered that putts, which term is commonly used to describe the
strokes taken with a putter, may often be in excess of 12 meters
(40 feet), it will be understood that great accuracy is required to
ensure that the resulting position of the ball after the stroke is
at least proximate if not within the hole. In general, the distance
of the ball from the hole is proportional to the likelihood that
the putt will be missed, i.e. further putts will be required to
deposit the ball in the hole.
It is well known in the game of golf that a significant element of
the professional game is centered on putting, and poor putters of
the ball rarely achieve successful results. Indeed the difference
between the scorecards of players with equal "tee to green"
ability, but different putting ability is immediately evident.
It is surprising that there are currently relatively few putting
training devices available, especially when it is considered that
putting is such an essential element of the game. One device which
is available, but adapted for conventionally indoor use, consists
of a plastic tray provided with a U-shaped inclined channel which
narrows along its length, one end of the channel being closed off
and located substantially centrally and above the base of the
device, the alternate end being open and adjacent the base level.
The channel is typically integrally moulded into the device such
that on placing the device on a carpet or the like, the wider open
end of the channel coincides with the periphery of the device to
create a sharp lower edge which rests on the said carpet. The
channel is inclined upwardly from the wider open end to the
closed-off end which is within the body of the device. Also within
the device there is provided a battery-powered ejector
mechanism.
In use the device is placed on a carpet, and a user wishing to
practice his putting stands some distance away from the device and
putts balls toward the device, which is disposed with the wider
open end of the channel facing towards the user. The provision of a
sharp lower edge of the channel which rests on the carpet
facilitates the passage of a ball accurately struck along the said
carpet by the user into the channel and towards the closed off end
thereof provided in the device. A ball struck by a putter with the
correct weight and accuracy of direction towards the device will
locate itself in the closed end of the channel, which is provided
with a slight recess and moulded to the spherical shape of a golf
ball. The battery-powered ejector mechanism then detects the
presence of a ball in the closed end of the channel and ejects same
back down the inclined channel towards the putter who can again
attempt to putt the ball with said correct weight and direction. It
can be appreciated that a good putter of the ball will be capable
of repeatedly striking the ball such that it is received by the
narrowing channel and located in the recess at the closed end
thereof.
The primary and pervasive disadvantage of such training devices is
that they do not address any of the often numerous imperfections in
the putting stroke of the player. In order to strike a golf ball
with a putter directionally accurately, a smooth unerring swing is
required. In particular, it is generally believed that the arc
along which the putter head travels as the same is taken away from
the stationary ball during the "backswing," the arc which the
putter head follows as it is returned to the ball to strike same,
and the arc followed thereby after the ball has been struck, i.e.
follow through, are to be part of the same imaginary circle whose
centre is approximately between the shoulders of the golfer.
Furthermore, the diameter of said circle in the direction which it
is desired to strike the ball must be parallel to the plane
containing the legs of the player. If this were not the case, the
putting stroke of the player would either slice the ball at impact
from above when viewed from above, or would push the ball from
below. In any event, an undesirable component of velocity would be
imparted to the ball at impact with the face. The only component of
velocity ideally imparted to the ball at impact is in the desired
striking direction. In this case the ball simply rolls in the
direction in which it was struck.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of this invention to provide a putting device which
allows a player to analyse whether he is imparting any desirable
velocity components to the ball at impact.
It is a further object of this invention to provide a putter which
preferably does not infringe current regulations concerning putter
configurations and which therefore can be used in competition, as
well as in "unofficial" games and/or practise.
It is a still further object of this invention to provide a putter
which can be used in a variety of different ways to immediately
indicate the accuracy of the putting stroke of a player.
It is yet a further object of the invention to provide a putter
which when used in training, enables a user to "groove" his putting
stroke by ensuring that the arcuate rotational travel of the putter
head conforms to the theoretical optimum described above, in
particular by conforming the backswing and follow through of the
player to the optimum described before and after impact
respectively.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a training
device which defocuses the mind of the user on the actual point of
impact, and increases the concentration of that user on the
particular arc of swing during the stroke.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the present invention in a first aspect there is
provided a golf club including a head with at least one striking
face, a rear face or edge and side faces or edges, any of which may
be curved, said edges or faces defining a head of a predetermined
thickness, a shaft being attached to said head for use in swinging
the club, said head having at least one further arcuate face or
edge or further planar faces or edges defining at least one recess
between the side faces or edges wherein the said at least one
recess defined by said further faces or edges is adapted to receive
an object or article behind the striking face of the head.
Typically the at least one recess passes through the thickness of
the golf club head.
In one embodiment the object or article is movable with respect to
the head but the head acts to restrict the movement thereof in a
direction parallel to the striking face when the said ball is in
contact with the said further faces or edges during the swinging of
the club by a user.
Typically the golf club is a putter with which the invention is
particularly suited and reference hereon in is made to a putter
when defining the invention.
It is to be pointed out that the shaft does not comprise a key
feature of the invention, and accordingly the invention in a
further aspect relates to a golf club head with the features as
herein described.
The object or article in the recess can be of any shape or size to
suit the recess but a ball, and more particularly a conventional
golf ball is well suited in a preferred embodiment.
In a first embodiment of the invention the recess opens to the rear
face or edge of the putter, and in a second alternative embodiment,
the recess is closed to form an aperture within the body of the
putter. Preferably the aperture is circular and of a diameter
marginally greater than the diameter of a conventional golf
ball.
Preferably, the recess of the first embodiment is defined at least
on two sides by the further faces or edges within the body, the
separation of said faces or edges being marginally greater than the
article to be placed in the recess in use.
In the former embodiment, the further faces or edges are preferably
substantially parallel and perpendicular to the striking face.
Further preferably said further faces or edges are provided
substantially equidistantly from the centre of the striking face,
and accordingly can have the additional function of alignment
means.
In any event the head of the putter is preferably provided with
additional alignment means which allow the user of the putter to
position the striking face squarely to the desired direction of
travel of the ball after striking thereof.
Preferably additional weighting elements are provided in the body
of the putter head on either side. of the recess to provide a
balanced "toe/heel" weight distribution. The toe and the heel of
the putter head are those regions towards the extremities of the
striking face and providing such a weight distribution across the
striking face reduces the twisting moment imparted to the putter
head on impact with the ball when the point of impact is displaced
from the centre of the striking face.
In one embodiment the article or object placed in the recess can be
placed in a "fixed" position during use so as to provide a selected
effect in use of the golf club. In one embodiment the article or
object has a weight or weight distribution which changes the
characteristics of the club when fixed in the recess, typically via
any convenient form of engagement means. The article or object may
be a weight which can be moved within the aperture or recess
without being released therefrom to alter the weight and moment of
inertia characteristics of the club head.
The golf club head can be of any suitable shape such as a "mallet"
or blade type head.
Preferably the putter conforms to the regulations concerning
putters of the Royal and Ancient (R&A) Golf Association. In
this case the putter of the present invention can be used in
competitions. Other training devices are either impossible to use
in competition or do not conform to the regulations of the R&A.
Henceforth the uniformity of putting stroke acquired during
training is not immediately lost once playing on the golf course,
as is so often the case with current training means employed by
golf professionals.
Preferably, in the case where the recess is provided as an aperture
in the putter head throughout the thickness thereof is defined by
the said further faces or edges, said aperture is substantially
centrally located of the putter head body considered as a whole.
However, different locations of the aperture may be provided
depending on personal choice, or to suit particular training
techniques and practices.
Regardless of the position of the aperture, a heel-to-toe weight
distribution can automatically be achieved because the removal of
matter from the body head in the manner described automatically
increase the relative weights towards the extremities of the
striking face.
It has been postulated that a larger "sweet spot" (that area of the
striking face which when impacted causes resonant dynamics within
the body of the putter head) can be achieved if the aperture is
provided towards the rear of the putter head body. Experimentation
can define the precise location of the said aperture to give rise
to the largest sweet spot, for particular head designs.
In a further embodiment of the invention, in addition to receiving
an object or article, the recess is provided to receive an insert
in the form of a sleeve.
In one embodiment the sleeve is provided to alter the size and/or
shape of the recess in which the object or article is to be placed.
In addition, or alternatively, the insert is provided in the recess
so that after the article or object has been placed therein the
insert acts to retain or improve retention of the object or article
in the recess and/or further guide the movement of the object with
the head.
In one embodiment the insert can be positionally moved with respect
to the head and recess. In one embodiment, when an article or
object is also placed in the recess the insert can be moved to
adjust the position of the object or article within the recess, and
thereby allow a plurality of positions for the article in the
recess.
Alternatively the insert is itself the selectable article or object
and can be positionally moved with respect to the recess so as to
cause variation in the performance of the same.
In a further embodiment the walls of the club head which define the
recess are shaped to suit particular requirements and may, for
example, be concave or convex shaped to retain or allow controlled
release respectively of the article from the recess.
Typically the article is a golf ball and in one embodiment each of
the recesses is provided for the reception of an article therein.
The recesses can be arranged and positioned with respect to each
other in any desired configuration but two particularly effective
arrangements are for the plurality of recesses to be arranged along
an axis substantially perpendicular to the plane of the striking
face of the club head or alternatively or in addition for a
plurality of recesses to be arranged along an axis substantially
parallel with the striking face of the club head. The arrangement
of the recesses in different configurations allows different and
selective attributes of a golf club swing to be monitored such as
the swing arc, head accuracy in movement and/or club grip.
To further allow different characteristics to be selectively
monitored, the recesses can be formed such that each article is
released from the respective recess at different points of the golf
club swing, such that the path of the released articles thereafter
indicating a characteristic or characteristics of the swing at the
instant of release of the said article. This can be achieved by
either or a combination of forming the recesses with different
shaped walls and/or altering the depth of respective recesses.
In a further aspect of the invention, there is provided a golf club
head having at least one striking face, a rear face or edge and
side faces or edges, said edges or faces defining the club head
body which further has a predetermined thickness, said head having
at least one further arcuate face or edge or further planar faces
or edges defining at least one recess between the side faces or
edges and throughout the thickness of the body, wherein the at
least one recess defined by said further faces or edges is adapted
to receive an object or article behind the striking face of the
club head.
In one embodiment the recess is formed or receives an insert which
allows an article in the form of a golf ball to be picked from a
surface and retained in the recess of the golf club head until
released by the golf club user. In this embodiment the golf club
head can be used as a means for picking up a golf ball thereby
saving the user from bending down to retrieve the same, and when
one considers that the golf club can be used in practice where a
large number of swings and golf ball releases can be performed in
accordance with the invention, the ability to receive and reinsert
the ball in position for the next practice is useful.
In a further embodiment the recess can receive an insert which in
turn is adapted to receive and locate a further training device for
use with the golf club. One possible device is an alignment
device.
According to a third aspect of the invention there is provided an
attachment for a putter head capable of being attached thereto by
any suitable means, said attachment having an attachment location
and at least one arcuate face or edge or further planar faces or
edges defining at least one recess therebetween, said recess being
defined behind, in front of, or above the putter head, wherein the
at least one recess is adapted to receive an object or article such
as a conventional golf ball and restrict the movement thereof in a
direction parallel to the striking face when the said ball is in
contact with the said faces or edges during the swinging of the
putter by a user.
Most preferably, the attachment defines a plurality of recesses,
each of which may be sized to receive a conventional golf ball.
It is yet further preferable that the attachment is disposed behind
the striking face of the putter head in conventional use.
Preferably the attachment is provided with at least one arcuate
hoop behind or in front of the attachment location, the edges or
faces defining same having a separation which is marginally greater
than that of the diameter of a conventional golf ball.
In an alternative embodiment, the attachment may be provided with a
pair of spaced limbs extending substantially parallel and
rearwardly of the attachment location, the separation of said limbs
being marginally greater than the diameter of a conventional golf
ball.
Preferably the attachment means ensures uniform and repeatable
attachment to the said putter head.
In the case where the putter to which the attachment is to be
affixed is a mallet-type putter having a mallet-shaped head, the
applicant foresees that the attachment may be simply mounted on the
upper surface of the club head so as to define a receptacle for
receiving a golf ball and which prevents motion thereof in a
direction parallel to the striking face of the club head while the
ball is retained in said receptacle. The receptacle is ideally
provided with an open side thus allowing the ball to be released
from said receptacle to fall under gravity in front of or behind
the club head depending on the orientation of said receptacle and
its open side.
In a yet further aspect of the invention there is provided a
training method to improve a golf club swing using a golf club with
a means for the retention of a golf ball in the golf club head,
said golf ball releasable from the golf club head during the swing
of the club and wherein said training method involves the steps of
placing a golf ball in a retained position in the golf club head,
performing a swing with the golf club head and as the swing is
performed monitoring the path and speed of the golf ball released
from the golf club head during the swing.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The understanding of the invention is now enhanced by the following
specific description in which reference is made to the accompanying
diagrams wherein:
FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a putter head according to one
embodiment of the invention;
FIGS. 2a to 2b show plan views of modified putter head
constructions falling within the scope of the invention;
FIGS. 2c to 2d show plan views of an attachment according to a
modified aspect of the invention as attached to a blade putter
head; and
FIGS. 3 to 5 show perspective views of the mode of operation of the
putter as a training device.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S)
Referring firstly to FIG. 1 there is shown a putter head 2 provided
with a striking face 4, side faces 6, 8 and a rear face 10 which in
general define a central body 12 of the putter head. A recess 14 in
the form of an aperture is provided within the body 12 and extends
throughout the entire thickness thereof. It will be appreciated
that although the aperture 14 is substantially symmetrically
disposed within the body 12 of the putter head 2 about both a
lateral axis 16 and a longitudinal axis 18, the precise disposition
of the centre of the aperture may be moved within the body 12 so as
to be offset from either of the said axes 16, 18 according to
choice or experimentation regarding the position and size of the
sweet spot indicated generally at 14 on the striking face 4. It
will further be appreciated that altering the location of the
aperture 14 alters the dynamic and vibrational characteristics of
the putter head, and such characteristics can be further altered by
providing a toe weight 20 and/or a heel weight 22 in the toe or
heel portions 24, 26 respectively of the putter head 2. Henceforth,
it will be understood that a large number of modifications and
variations may be made to the putter head 2 as desired, and one
such modification is to provide one or more additional apertures in
the golf club head which can operate in the same manner as herein
described with respect to the single aperture 14.
The heel region 26 is further provided with a location 28 to which
a putter shaft may be connected to allow the putter to be swung by
a user. Such a shaft is shown in FIGS. 3 to 5 at 30. Although the
putter head of FIG. 1 is shown as a mallet-type putter head, it
will be immediately understood that a wide variety of shapes can be
employed and indeed that the invention can be adopted in other golf
clubs such as for example a driver or golf club "woods." The putter
head of FIG. 2 is further provided with a channeled region 32
having edges 34, 36 which is set back from the upper surfaces of
the toe and heel portions 24, 26. Although this feature is not
essential to the invention, a putter provided with such a feature
can be aligned with the desired direction of travel of a ball
struck by the striking face 4 as shown at 38, as the said channel
sides 34, 36 define discreet edges 40, 42 which are substantially
parallel with the desired striking direction 38, and perpendicular
to the striking face 4.
Referring now to FIGS. 2a and 2b, alternative configurations of
putter head 2 are shown. In FIG. 2a, the putter head 50 is provided
with a U-shaped recess 52 in the rear face of the putter head.
Correct alignment of the putter can be achieved as a result of the
further internal faces 54, 56 which define the recess 52, because
said faces define edges in the uppermost surface 58 of the putter
head which are both parallel with the desired direction of striking
and perpendicular to the striking face 4 in similar manner to the
edges 40, 42 described above in relation to FIG. 1.
A further putter head 6 is shown in FIG. 2 and is provided with an
aperture 62, the centre of which is offset from both the lateral
axis 62 and the longitudinal axis 64. Alignment means 66, 68 are
provided in a similar manner to that described in relation to FIG.
1.
A primary characteristic of the invention is that said recess in
whatever form is preferably of marginally greater relevant
dimensions than the diameter of the article to be received therein
such as an article in the form of a conventional golf ball and
accordingly such a golf ball can be received in a toleranced manner
in said apertures and recess. In the case of the recess 52 the
distance between the edges 54, 56 is marginally greater than the
diameter of a conventional golf ball, whereas the diameter of the
circular apertures 14, 62 are marginally greater than the golf ball
diameter. Accordingly, the said apertures and recess prevent
significant movement of the golf ball in the direction of the
longitudinal axes 18, 64, and in the case of FIG. 2a, 59 during the
back swing and follow through of the putter stroke. This feature is
more fully explained with reference to FIGS. 3 to 5.
Referring now to FIGS. 2c and 2d, an alternative embodiment is
disclosed in which it can be seen that an attachment 70 is provided
with attachment means 72 which ideally does not interfere with the
striking face 4 of a putter head 74. This functions in a broadly
identical manner to the apertures 14, 62 and recess 52 described in
relation to FIGS. 1, 2a and 2b. In both FIGS. 2c and 2d, the
relevant dimensions of the attachment 70 are marginally greater
than the diameter of a conventional golf ball, in order that such
may be received within either the recess 76 defined by a pair of
rearward extending limbs 75, 75' in the case of FIG. 2c, and by the
internal walls 77 of a circular hoop in the case of FIG. 2d. The
said walls 75, 75', or 77 prevent any significant movement of the
golf ball in a direction parallel to the striking face 4 of the
putter head during the putting stroke.
Referring now to FIGS. 3 to 5, a putter head 2 as described in FIG.
1 is provided with a shaft 30 which is gripped by a user (not
shown) and aligned by said user along a desired direction of
striking 38. Such alignment is crucial in accurate putting and is
aided by the provision of edges 40, 42 in the upper surface of the
putter head 2 which allow a user to ascertain the orientation of
the striking face 4 of the putter with the desired striking
direction 38. It is to be pointed out the material from which the
club head is manufactured may not permit the provision of a channel
as described, and accordingly the edges 40, 42 may be replaced by
painted lines applied to the upper surface of the club face.
The walls of the recess can also be shaped to further control the
retention and selected instant of release of the article during a
golf swing. For example, the walls can be straight, convex or
concave shaped and in one embodiment the aperture can be provided
to selectively receive one of a range of insert sleeves, each
having a different inner wall shaping and thereby allowing the
characteristics of the recess to be altered for different training
requirements.
During play on a golf course, obviously no marking of the desired
striking direction exists and the user has only the alignment edges
40, 42 to aid his alignment of the putter such that the striking
face 4 is exactly perpendicular with the imagined desired striking
direction.
In order to train using the putter head 2 with one recess therein,
a pair of golf balls 80, 82 is provided, the first golf ball 80
being positioned in front of the striking face 4 and the second of
the golf balls 82 being disposed within the aperture 14 provided in
the putter head 2. The aim of the putting training device of the
invention is to ensure both that exact perpendicularity is achieved
between the striking face 4 and the desired striking direction 38
during impact between the said striking face 4 and the ball 80, and
furthermore to ensure that a correct arc of swing is achieved by a
user during every putting stroke.
This is achieved as follows:
In FIG. 4, the putter head 2 has been drawn back from the ball 80
along a back swing arc 84 to the position shown. It can be seen
from the figure that the ball 82 is supported only by the ground 86
on which the training is being conducted and accordingly as the
putter head is rotated about the back swing arc 84 and rises above
the ground 86, the ball 82 simply drops from within the aperture 14
under gravity, but is nevertheless confined to travel along the
line of the desired striking direction 38, except in opposite
fashion. It can be seen from the figure that at the extremity of
the back swing of the user, the putter is of such a thickness that
the ball 82 is not completely released from within the aperture 14,
but is partially retained by the walls of said aperture approximate
the lowermost surface of the putter head 2.
It is a common flaw of players who are poor putters to break their
wrists during the putting stroke and also to concentrate too
specifically on the point of impact as opposed to the arc of swing
which gives rise to an accurate direction of strike.
With regard to the first flaw, although not shown in any of the
diagrams, the arms and wrists of the player ideally remain rigid
throughout the putting stroke, with only the shoulders rotating to
effect the stroke, and in this manner a uniform and accurate
direction of strike is achieved. The breaking of the wrists during
the stroke results in the putter head rising above the ground
during the backswing and follow through to greater degree than when
the arms and wrists of the player remain rigid. The training device
of the present invention allows a poor putter to quickly correct
this deficiency because the ball 82 will be released from within
the aperture if the wrists of the player break during the stroke,
whereas during a correctly executed stroke, the wrists would not
break and the putter head would rise above the ground 86 only
gradually and to a lesser degree. It is to be further pointed out
that the putter of the present invention may be used as a training
device with only a single ball 82, and in such configuration could
be used simply to hone the putting stroke of the player by ensuring
that the player retains the ball 82 within the aperture 14 at all
times during a stroke.
With regard to the second flaw, the training device according to
the invention defocuses the mind of the user from the impact
between the striking face and the ball, and indeed such impact need
not actually occur (as discussed above there is no need to provide
an object ball 80 which is to be struck by the putter). This form
of training can be invaluable in teaching players to "play through
the ball" without concentrating specifically on the impact of the
face therewith. In all sports, the mental approach of doing more
than is actually required, for example in sprinting where sprinters
run towards a point past the line, is unequivocally believed to
result in improved performance. Accordingly the training device of
the invention accomplishes this.
As the putter head begins its down swing from the position shown in
FIG. 4 to the position shown in FIG. 5, the ball 82 remains trapped
within the aperture 14 until such time as the putter head 2 is
raised a distance at least equal to the diameter of the golf ball
82 above the ground 86. At this stage, the ball 82 is released from
within the aperture 14 and as a result of the angular velocity of
the putter head 2 at this time, the ball 82 is imparted with a
forward velocity directly proportional to the angular velocity of
the said putter head. It is important to note that as the putter
head 2 is returned from the position shown in FIG. 4 to the
stationary position of FIG. 3, the striking face 4 impacts the ball
80 and thus imparts a forward velocity to said ball. On account of
this impact, and the fact that the angular velocity of the putter
head after impact is generally lower than that at impact, the ball
82 will have imparted thereto a lower velocity than the ball 80,
and accordingly will lag somewhat behind the said ball 80.
The putter head described acts as a training device in that it is
possible for a user of the putter provided with a putter head 2 to
ascertain whether the arc of his follow through as shown at 85 is
in the correct plane. If this is the case, then the direction of
the velocity imparted to the ball 82 will be identical to that
direction in which the ball 80 is already traveling, and ideally
both of these said directions will be identical to the desired
striking direction 38.
A common fault of poor putters of the golf ball is the tendency to
drag the putter head toward the body after striking the ball 80,
and in such circumstances the putter head 2 would follow a path
indicated generally by the dotted line 88. If a player whose arc of
swing of the putter head 2 is habitually along an incorrect path
such as 88, the fault of that player will be immediately evident on
using the training device according to the invention because
although the ball 80 may travel at least to some extent along the
desired striking direction 38, the secondary ball 82 will be
released from within the aperture 14 of the putter head in a
direction indicated generally by the dotted line 90. Such
instantaneous appraisal of an incorrect putting arc of swing has
heretofore been impossible with currently existing putting training
devices.
It will be appreciated that the putter heads shown in FIGS. 2a and
2c operate in a different manner to the putter heads shown in FIGS.
1, 2b and 2d in that a marking on the ground 86 along the desired
striking direction 38 both in front of the striking surface before.
and behind the putter head 2 is required. The putter heads shown in
FIGS. 2a and 2b are ideally adapted to conform to the arc of swing
of a player to the correct theoretical arc 84 in the back swing
phase of the putting stroke. Henceforth, a ball disposed within the
recesses 52, 76 will travel along the marked desired striking
direction 38 away from the putter head when said head reaches the
extremity of the back swing, and in the case where an incorrect arc
of swing is habitually adopted by a player such as that shown at 88
in FIG. 5, the direction of travel of the ball away from the putter
head will vie away from marked desired striking direction 38.
Accordingly, it is possible to use the putter head shown in FIG. 1
in a training method wherein three conventional golf balls are
used, two being in the positions shown of golf balls 80, 82 in FIG.
3 and a third golf ball (not shown) disposed immediately behind and
adjacent the rear face 10 and also directly above a marked line
indicating the desired striking direction 38. In such method, both
the back swing and the follow through of the stroke of the player
can be conformed to the correct theoretical arc of swing denoted by
84 and 85 by ensuring that the second golf ball 82 travels along an
identical path to that taken by the ball 80 after impact, and also
by ensuring that the third golf ball moves in a direction of the
marked line indicating the desired striking direction 38 but in a
reverse manner to the balls 80, 82.
A number of additional features may be provided in a putter head
having the configurations shown in FIGS. 1, 2a, and 2b. In
particular, more than a single aperture 14 may be provided, one
being disposed toward the toe 24 and the other being disposed
towards the heel 26 of the putter head 2. In such circumstances, a
pair of golf balls may be disposed within the two apertures of the
putter head which, when in use as a training device, would impart a
velocity to both the said golf balls disposed in the said aperture
on either side of a desired striking direction 38. Imperfections in
the arc of swing of a player would accordingly become evident with
even more clarity than would be the case with the putter head 2,
and furthermore, such a modified putter head may be of use in
assessing the particular orientation of the striking surface at
impact and thereafter.
It has further been proposed to provide a variety of different
insert or plugs which could be inserted in the aperture when the
putter is being used in conventional play to provide desired
dynamic and vibration characteristics which are suited to the
particular player. It has also been proposed to provide a fluted
aperture whose diameter varies across the thickness of the putter
head, and in particular an increasing diameter of aperture from the
top surface of the putter head to the bottom surface thereof would
allow an earlier release of the ball 82 therefrom. This may be of
advantage in testing the short putting stroke of a player, or may
be used in circumstances where the arc of swing of a player is
approximately correct but requires slight fine tuning.
A yet further proposal is to provide an elastomeric ring on the
inner surface of the aperture 14 to enable a player using the
putter in conventional play to lift a ball from the ground by
simply urging the putter head over the ball such that it locates
within the aperture and engages the elastomeric ring to be
subsequently held thereby.
To enhance the overall aesthetic appearance of the putter head 2,
caps may be provided to cover the aperture either on the upper
surface thereof and/or on the lower surface. Such caps could be of
use in identification purposes or alternatively may be provided
with further alignment features to enhance the alignment
capabilities of the putter head and the player as a whole.
Both caps and any insert or plugs provided within the aperture may
be transparent, and indeed the entire putter head may be
manufactured of a transparent material.
A yet further insert can be provided for reception in the recess
and can be used as a weight. The insert can also include different
weighted portions and one or more recesses provided in its
uppermost surface such that a user of the putter and insert can
alter, typically by rotation, the position of the insert with
respect to the club head and hence alter the weight distribution
when disposed within the aperture to provide the putter head with
altered dynamic and vibrational characteristics to suit the
particular preference of the player. In one embodiment, unwanted
movement or rotation of said weight can easily be prevented by a
simple locking device such as a grub screw tightenable against the
surface of the weight using an alien key inserted through a
conveniently disposed aperture in the putter head.
It will be immediately evident to those skilled on the art that a
wide variety of modifications and amendment may be made to the
invention without exceeding the scope or departing from the spirit
thereof.
* * * * *